Translator:  Charles K.

06:45-09:15

Sansana-Meitar crossing

We arrived a few minutes before 7; the peddlers hurry to gather their merchandise because they’re not allowed to be here after 7 because of the stench coming from the open cesspit.  Palestinian laborers continued to cross a few minutes after 7.  A Palestinian whose permit had been taken from him by a Border Police soldier at a different checkpoint, and had been lost, asked us for help.  We contact Sylvia in such cases, hoping she can help.

Hebron

Following up on a report from the Ma’an news agency, we went to look for an olive tree that had been burned on 1.6.12.

The olive grove is opposite the protest tent erected after Mrs. Heikhal’s car had been repeatedly set afire.  A passerby reported that the police came, and left five minutes later.  A Palestinian Authority fire engine extinguished the fire, but the tree was completely burned.  They don’t even have mercy on trees planted by Abraham the patriarch.  Muhammad reported that Michael, our friend Tzipi’s son, who some years ago had made the effort to rehabilitate and preserve the ancient olive grove.

We forgot to send members of Hashomer Hahadash to the arson site, to investigate the villainy.  Hopefully, they’re not completely indifferent to villainy, whatever its source.  They’re youths with a mission who are doing a year of civilian service before going into the army, working with Jewish farmers in the Galilee and the Negev to prevent thefts of livestock – a strange, not completely innocent mixture of police work (crime prevention) and Border Police work (protecting Jews against Arabs, including those who are Israeli citizens).

We bought local cucumbers from Nabil, who’s very nice, at Hazif junction.  They’re delicious!!